The Reiki Cafe 

Hi All,

I'm a bit shaken up by some information I received.

About a year and a half ago I was giving reiki treatments to a man who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He couldn't feel the energy and he was just going along with the treatments because of his wife's insistence. Because of his reluctance, treatments were fairly infrequent. He was also on medication. It was difficult to gauge what the reiki was doing for him, other than perhaps mitigating side effects and keeping him cheerful and positive.

After about 6 months he went for a follow-up visit to his doctor and he came back with the bad news that the cancer had gotten worse and spread. After that he summarily said that the reiki was doing nothing for him and he wanted no more treatments.

Now comes the weird part. I had a very strong sense at the time that he did not have cancer. In fact I was positive that he would come back from the doctor with good news. When the bad news came, it was quite upsetting (although I'm sure it was a lot more upsetting for him), but I had a persistent feeling that the doctor was wrong. And I didn't say anything, because I thought it was wishful thinking on my part, and also that it would be irresponsible to speak up.

Recently he changed doctors. His new doctor ran some more tests and looked at the old test results, and he said that a mistake may have been made; that what was interpreted as the cancer having spread was something else; in fact the numbers indicate that there is no cancer. He was taken off the medication he has been taking, and of course he feels great, having been given a new lease on life.

In the meantime he had a year of fear and anxiety, when he believed that he was living on borrowed time.

I now feel bad. Should I have spoken up? I really didn't trust my feelings at the time, and if the same thing were to happen again, I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same thing.
Would anyone out there do anything differently?

Cheers,
J.

Judith,

Situations like this have to be handled very delicately and professionally.
His medical care and doctors are the first source of treatment as this person was doing.

If you feel that strongly that something other is going on then I would say something like, I really feel you should consider having a second medical opinion as it is in your best interest to do this. I just have a feeling something else might be going on. Then add that you would be happy to continue Reiki practices.

This to me covers all of the bases.

It is good news he is doing well!

Donna

jks,

Hi,

If I were this fellow, a third opinion from another oncologist would be mandatory. By the way, I assume both physicians he went to were oncologists? Not all prostate enlargements or tumors are cancerous; though, most probably will be. And, you do not say what the "other something going on" is. As for feeling better after getting off meds for cancer? Who would be surprised by this? :)

Should you have said that you didn't feel it was cancer? Speaking only for myself, no. Unless.....he had asked what you felt. Then one is free to say or not say. Remember, Reiki practices are not for diagnosing medical conditions.

Cheers,

RC

I wouldn't feel bad.

From your description he didn't sound particularly open to the powers of Reiki or the deeper levels that you could achieve.

It must not have been meant for him to hear from you that he was misdiagnosed. It doesn't sound that he would be open to such a suggestion anyway. For him, medical advice comes from doctor's only.

But I agree with what was said about recommending a second opinion if you feel that he need one. So maybe that was the lesson for you.

Otoharo!

I really do not have much to add. Except this. You went by your feelings. It would have been OK to share your sense that something else was going on, but now that you have this experience under your belt, you can do differently next time. We are here only to learn. Both you and your client. And the medical people. If we did everything perfectly the first time, then why would we still be here? It may also be that your client had cancer as a means of leaving here, and changed his mind mid-stream. His wife's insistence against his initial will that he submit to reiki. Any of a number of things could have caused him to change his desire from leaving here to being gung ho to stay around! Maybe he was surprised that she cared so much as to override him! That could mean a while lot to him.

finality

Thank you all for replying! It's good to see the problem from different points of view. Yes, I agree that we are all here to learn, and that we Reiki folk should not really diagnose. I think with a more receptive client I might have said something about my misgivings. I also think having this experience under my belt I will give more credence to my own sense of what's going on, but without diagnosing of course :)

Cheers,
Judith

Dear JKS,
I think you were wise to keep your feelings to yourself & there are times, like this, that it is not easy to do. Unlicensed persons can open themselves up to an accusation of practicing medicine without a license. Some traditional medical persons are becoming slightly unhinged about the alternative healthcare movement. Perhaps it is genuine doubt due to the paucity of research studies & the ability to explain so much away with the "placebo" effect. But in some cases, it is my belief, that they see dollar bills floating away.
However, we can always bring up the subject of getting another medical opinion without over stepping boundaries.
Do not underestimate the benefit of helping your client remain positive & cheerful! That is a very important factor in healing. Hope brings many benefits with it.
The person who should feel bad is the dingbat doctor not you!

peace & joy,
holobon

I wonder if the first doctor even knows he made a mistake.

There are some shocking statistics out there. 30 to 33 percent of Americans and Canadians report having been subjected to medical errors; the number is somewhat lower in the U.K. In America medical error (including adverse reactions to prescription medicines) is a leading cause of death.

I am bitter with justification: my mother died at 51 due to medical mismanagement. In Canada you can't even sue for malpractice because the sums you get are so paltry in comparison to what you pay for legal representation.

At least with reiki you cannot cause harm.

All best,
Judith

Dear JKS,
A man I knew was seriously injured due to an HMO doctor's decision not to share test results,the diagnosis nor the standard option of surgery...There was no justice in that case & I do understand feeling bitter...
peace & joy,
holobon